TOKYO — A Japanese university research team has announced the discovery of the rare Japanese mountain mole in the Shirakami-Sanchi range, a World Natural Heritage site in northeastern Japan. It is the first time the species has been recorded in the area, the team said.
The finding suggests that the habitat of the Japanese mountain mole may be considerably wider than previously estimated. Until now, the species was known mainly from limited records in a few high-altitude mountainous areas.
Shirakami-Sanchi stretches across Aomori and Akita prefectures and is known for its primeval beech forests, which UNESCO has recognized as a World Natural Heritage site. The additional record of a rare small mammal there further highlights the area's biodiversity value.
The research team said it will continue surveys to determine the species' actual distribution range and to assess the environmental factors affecting its survival in the heritage area.
